Creating a safer downtown for all: Improving services for people who use drugs in Ottawa report

The research team at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre: • Used a more emergent design strategy (adapting to new ideas during the research phase) to decide on the projects to do • Addressed key aspects of the project as opportunities came up • Moved the consultation of people who use drugs to year 2 of the project • Drew on recent community meetings to identify key themes In the first year (Ph. [...] Creating a safer downtown for all: Improving services for people who use drugs in Ottawa 1 Recommendations It is important to recognize that these recommendations come within the context of the existing criminalization, stigma and poverty of marginalized people who use drugs, and that continued advocacy to address the root causes of these harms is necessary. [...] Also discuss how the behaviour of some people who use drugs (for example, crimes committed to acquire drugs or public drug use) impacts the work of police and the perception of safety in the neighbourhood. [...] The aim was to recommend projects to put in place in Ottawa to improve the safety of people who use drugs and the agency staff who support them. [...] Also discuss how the behaviour of some people who use drugs (for example, crimes committed to acquire drugs or public drug use) impacts the work of police and the perception of safety in the neighbourhood.